Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-04-16

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lost my locSet."
The excitement both ofmistress and
maid seemed considerably more than
the occasion required; but oniv Medge
herself and the faithful woman VINO
nursed her as child knew of the Sc
TIous trouble such q loss woud entail.
Could you have dropped It out
side. Ma'am?"
Not possible. The chain couldn't
catch on anything when | had nay
cloak fastened. No; it must be on the
floor. Do look for 1t, Parker"
And look for it they did, but with
out success, and when the long. fruit.
less search was over the expression on
+ the girls face was very woebeCone in
deed.
The mistress has lost her gold lock-
et," whispered Parker when John
ChallOner came again to the door.
at ) my belief. Sir. that she dropped
1t on the floor OF the carriage. Can't
you send somebody after il, Sir?'
What locket?"
"'rne little gold one she always
wears round her neck" explained the
maid, regardless OF the urgent Park
er! You are not TO trouble Mr.. Chal-
loner, which came from behind her.
"She Is fOnder of it than anything
else, SIR; It seems pity 1t should be
lost"
Parker" again broke in the pretty
glrllsh voice. i desire that you will
not trouble Mr. ChalIoner."
The mans lips twisched involunta-
rily. 1t seemed to him that his young
wife was only playing at dignity when
she preferred addressing her remarks
TO hlm through the medium oil a ser.
want.
Don't be so foolish" he said per-
emptOrily. "Oi course IN 20 after
your iocket. | only came back to tell
you that ! am afraid you will have
10 spend several hours here. The
snow has broken down the telegraph
wires, so the men can't send on q
message to the next place for as
sistance. They must wait until this
storm Is over, and then get help from
the village to dig out the train and
clear the lines. But OF course it will be
the work OF a good many hours"
THANK YOU" saiG Madge, meekly.
"What is the timer"
Nearly ten" lie was turning away
when something in his wlie's voice
struck him, and he re-entered the room.
You are still cold? Wear this" he
said, shortly, rapidly unbuttoning his
fur-llned coat; and in spite of her re-
monstrances. he wrapped it around
her, and then went hastily out into
the bitter night air.
Lett alone. Madge leaned back in
her corner and sat for a long time cry
ing softly to herself Being thorough
ly unstrung by terror and fatigue, she
was in Just the unreasonable mood
which made her hus bands little act
OF kindness very precious in her eyes,
and she nestled into the thick warm
tuc as though cheating herself into the
belief that 1t was John himself who
was holding her. She remembered q
tlme-lt was during the happy weeks
which followed the wedding day
when she and John seemed to be ali in
all to each other; but when they were
finally settled in the staid London
house, over which Miss Sarah's chilly
influence hung likea pail, it had all been
altered then. John had gone back to
his beloved books. in apDaI ent forget
funess OF the solitary little wife in the
bug drawing-roOm up stairs; and il she
proposed invading his precincts, it was
only to be met with Miss Sarah's re-
proachful stare and the words: my
brother never allows even me to dis
turb him." And then baby's birth
and baby's DEATH In nervous ter
ror OF her own great grief the poor
young mother had flung herself into
every kind of dissipation. tor the dead
child hardly seemed further from her
than the silent man who was buried
IN his books, and to face her sorrow
alone was more than she could do.
Oh, dear. the life that henceforward
would be lived apart might have been
so happy!-and the tears flowed on.
Meanwhile Challouer had started
for the railway carriage. The binding
snow. the Pickering lantern, and the
difficulty OF picking his way made the
short journey long one; but his busy
wonderments made the time pass
quickly. For the first time in his lie
John Challoner was feeling curious.
What made his wife so fond of that
particular locket? What did it con-
tain? He was still pondering on the
mystery when he reached the carriage.
Parker had been right-the little en-
graved locket lay open on the hopr;
but beside it lay something, at the
sight OF which the mans heart gave a
great throb. A little curly head,
pair of sweet blue eyes, q soft, uncer-
tain voice trying to stammer the word
"Ma-maI" They all rose vividly be-
fore him as he stood there with the
tiny ring OF silky brown hair lying on
his open palm. And it was Madge
who had cherished the curl which his
own lips had seemed to press so much
oftener than had hers! Madge, who
had thought TO keep the token that
he had forgotten and since had regret
ted so vainly. Well, before they had
parted, he must ask her to halve her
treasure with him.
There were very tender memories
stirring within him as he plodded his
way back to the station, and when he
at last reached the little room his face
was very gentle. albeit very grave.
Yes. have it, Parker. Thank you.
il you 20 into the larger room
will sit with your mis-.
tress." he said, in regard TO the maids
anxious greeting; and when he and
Madge were alone he pulled his chair
closer 20 hers and began gravely:
"Here is your lockst."